ACLU: Debtors’ prisons are alive and well in (Ohio)

[limpyhobbler]

We expected it to be pretty intense, but what we found were pretty shocking numbers,” said ACLU of Ohio communications director Mike Brickner.

For example, “over 20% of all bookings in the Huron County Jail were related to failure to pay fines,” according to the report. Furthermore, “there is no evidence that any of these people were given hearings to determine whether or not they were financially able to pay their fines, as required by the law.”

The report includes several interviews with people who claim to have been victims of Ohio’s makeshift debtors’ prison system, such as unemployed Ohio local Megan Sharp. After being fined roughly $300 for driving with a suspended license, Sharp was incarcerated for ten days when she fell behind on her payments.

“The Norwalk Municipal Court added the cost of issuing the warrant and the expense of transporting her to jail to her debt,” according to the report. “The $300 she owed had now grown to over $500 with additional costs and fees.”
...

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/04/04/aclu-debtors-prisons-are-alive-and-well-in-midwest/

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Yikes.

[BainsBane]

1. Somehow I think private prisons

are at the root of the US having the largest prison population on earth. Yes, the drug war is part of it, but when there is money to be made off incarceration, business will use it to their advantage.

[limpyhobbler]

3. Got to keep those cells full or we're losing money.

Seems nuts.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I'm glad the ACLU is on this. Publicity is an important tool, though not the only one. K&R n/t